Yu-gi-oh
No Limits
Chapter 27-Warriors Vs Fiends
Charles checked his watch, 12:30. Rhodes was late and according to Taft's last text, the Duel between Rodriguez and Leonson had ended in Rodriguez's defeat.
"Let's see," Starts Charles, forgetting about the people walking around Grand Central Station, "if I'm able to defeat Rhodes today then that means I go on to face the kid in the final round- wait that wasn't part of the plan! The only reason I'm in this tournament is because they needed a 16th person to make it look convincing but then I over powered the first guy, and then the second guy chickened out so now I'm here in the third round and considering how weak a lot of Rhodes' monsters are on their own, I might
end up winning before he can Synchro or Fusion Summon. If that happens and then if I were to defeat the kid in the finals, does that mean I become the new Grand Master of Segas. If that happens then that means I'd control the entire city, maybe even the world but wait. The Grand Master has those weird powers, plus no one's aloud to know who he is, so does that mean that I'll never be able to let people know who I am. Oh no, if that's the case then I'll never lose my Virginity! OK then, the best thing to do is just surrender to Chase. Yeah I'll just-"
"What did you just say?"
Charles jumps in his seat. He then slowly turns around to see a soaking wet Chase in a navy blue cotton jacket.
"How long have been standing there and why are you wet?"
"First of all I just got here and second, have you looked outside, its not sun and Rainbows. It's pouring buckets, so can we please get this duel over with so I can get back to my room and get out of these soaked clothes."
"Wait a minute, why are you making it sound like you just want to get this over with. Shouldn't you be cautious of the deck I'm running?"
"Yeah right, like I have to worry about your deck."
"What, how dare you underestimate me? Don't forget, I almost one last time."
"You had an illegal card and a rigged duel Disk."
"Why you-… OK that's it, I'm going to beat you right here, right now! Then I'm going to win the final round, so what have you got to say about that!"
"You're not going to win. Now let's duel."
Charles
"Alright, people who are on time go first. My draw… looks like its a blast from the past! I summon Abaki (ATK: 1700/DEF: 1000) in attack mode and that's it for me!"
Chase
…
This is clearly a trap. When Abaki is destroyed by battle we both take 500 points of damage. Well, at least my theory on his deck was right. "My draw," this will work. "I summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman." (ATK: 800/DEF: 1200)
…
"I knew it," thinks Charles. "He summoned a weak monster."
"Now I activate the effect of Bubbleman. When he's summoned and I control no other cards, I can draw 2 more."
"Dr, draw 2 more cards?"
"Yup, and next I play Polymerization, now by sending the Bubbleman on my field with the Elemental HERO Burstinatrix in my hand to the graveyard, I can introduce you to Elemental HERO Steam Healer!" (ATK: 1800/DEF: 1000)
"Since when do you have a big purple train man!"
"I've had Steam Healer for a long time, I've just never used him against you before, but it looks like now is the right time, so Steam Healer attack, fast track fist!"
Steam flew out of the Hero's smoke stacks as he glided across the field.
The large muscular demon attempted to hit the hero with his club, but before he gets a chance, a rounded metal arm jabs the creature in its gut, making it vanish. (4000-3900)
"Yeah well guess what, now we both take 500 points of damage."
"True but now Steam Healer's effect activates. When he destroys a monster by battle, I gain life points equal to your monsters ATK points!"
"Wait, then that means-"
"Yup, first I take the 500 from your Abaki (4000-3500) but now I gain Abaki's ATK power as life points. (3500-5200) I set 1 card face down and don't forget you take the full damage from your Abaki." (3900-3400)
Charles
"My draw," Charles says with a lack of encouragement.
"It's not fair," thinks Charles, "how come he's able to summon a fusion monster on the first turn and I can't even draw a single card that can help me right now... wait a minute, I think I have an idea."
"OK Rhodes, it's time to get serious."
"Please do."
"I'm going to ignore that and I'm going to play Reload! Now I shuffle my entire hand into my deck and draw a completely new hand. Come on deck, I need this in order to win."
"I can here you."
"Oh... well... all right it's here! I just drew the one card that's going to win me this duel. I summon Archfiend Interceptor!" (ATK: 1400/DEF: 1600)
"Sorry but he's a little too low to win you this duel."
"True but, in my hand is the most powerful card ever created."
"Funny, didn't you say that about a certain monster in our last duel."
"Oh, I'm not talking about a monster. I'm talking about a spell card. I play the continuous spell card Solidarity! Now thanks to the effect of Solidarity, so long as the only monsters in my grave are Fiends, all my face-up Fiend Monsters gain 800 ATK points! (1400-2200) Now in case you haven't noticed, Interceptor is now stronger than your Steam Healer, so with no further ado, Archfiend Interceptor destroy his Hero!"
"Not if I can help it, I play Hero Shield! Now instead of my Hero getting destroyed, my trap goes to the grave."
"True but you still take 400 points of damage!" (5200-4800)
"Any other plans for your 4 armed football thing?"
"Just a face down and that's it for me."
Chase
"My draw, and next I play the Field Spell Skyscraper! Now whenever an Elemental HERO attacks an opponent's monster that has higher ATK points than my monster, my monster gains 1000 ATK points! Now Steam Healer show 4 arms your tackle!"
"Sorry but I've got a trap. I play Bark of Dark Ruler! Now by paying 700 life points, your overgrown toy loses 700 ATK! (3400-2700)(1800-2800) (2800-2100) Also, now the effect of Archfiend Interceptor activates! Now you take 500 points of damage! (4800-4300) Plus, it looks like your hero felt the strength of my monsters 4 fists!" (4300-4200)
"Let's just see how long it takes before I wipe your monster out. I set 1 card face down and end my turn."
Charles
"My draw, and I tribute my Archfiend Interceptor in order to summon Air Eater!" (ATK: 2100/DEF: 1600)
"Oh no, not another one of those things."
"So you've this monster before. Well, I bet you've never seen it with an extra 800 ATK points thanks to my Solidarity, (2100-2900) now Air Eater, attack him directly, Air Pulse!"
"Oh no you don't, I play Enemy Controller! Now your monster gets switched to defense mode and my life points stay safe!"
"Not for much longer. I set 1 card face down and end my turn."
Chase
"My draw, and I summon Elemental HERO Stratos!"
"Why," thinks Charles, "out of all the cards in his deck does he draw the one monster with ATK strong enough to take on my monster?"
"Now thanks to Stratos' effect I get to add 1 Elemental HERO from my deck to straight to my hand!"
"Oh crap!"
"Oh crap indeed because I'm going with Elemental HERO Captain Gold!"
"2100 ATK points on a level 4!"
"That's right, you're lucky I can't summon anymore this turn so I think I'll just attack with Stratos! Now Stratos take down green boy with
Stratosphere Storm!"
"Oh no, oh no, oh n-wait a minute, I almost forgot my trap card! I play Hate Buster! Now because you're attacking one of my fiends, I can destroy both our monsters. Catch is, you take damage equal to Stratos' original ATK!"
Air Eater explodes, destroying Stratos along with it. Members of the newly developed crowd are shocked at the excitement going on in front of them. (4200-2400)
"I'm not letting anymore of your attacks go through, I play Swords of Revealing Light. Now none of your monsters can attack for the next 3 turns!"
Charles
"My draw, hah looks like you're about to get what you deserve for underestimating me! I summon Ancient Brain! (ATK: 1000/DEF: 700) He may be tiny but thanks to Solidarity, his ATK is about to be as big as his brain. Next I set 1 card face down and end my turn." (1000-1800)
"Ha ha, ha, he doesn't even suspect that I'm setting up a strategy," thinks Charles.
Chase
"Sorry, but whatever tribute summon your planning isn't going through on my watch."
"...How do you know I'm planning a tribute summon?"
"You have too many stars on the field for a synchro summon and if you were planning a fusion or ritual summon you would have done it already."
"Well how are you sure that you'll stop me this turn."
"Because I've got this, I summon Elemental HERO Captain Gold!" (ATK: 2100/DEF: 800)
"Oh crap, I forgot about him!"
"Well you're not forgetting this, now Captain Gold take down Metal Mouth, golden strike!"
"No, you are not beating me this time! I play Survival draw! Now your attack is negated and since I control 2 Fiend monsters, I get to draw a card!"
"Very well then, I end."
Charles
"You think your so tough! Why, what makes you think your any tougher then I am!"
"For starters, my hands aren't trembling."
Suddenly Charles' attention is drawn towards his hand. He is now suddenly aware that his hands are shaking as if they are in frozen weather.
"I'm scared." Suddenly, Charles slams his eyes shut, ashamed at the sight of his fear. "Are you happy now street trash? You finally happy, I admit it, I'm afraid, afraid of you, afraid of Segas, hell, I'm even afraid of that Toni girl! I'm nothing but a coward!"
He forces his eyes open. He is now looking at Chase who has not changed his expression. He is still showing the same annoyed/angry look he's been showing all game long.
"Say something, just say something already!"
"Surrender."
"What did you just say?"
"You aren't cut out for this. You're just a normal High School kid who got himself mixed up in something he shouldn't, so surrender now, go home and I'll take care of Segas."
"But why do you want to win this tournament."
"So Segas can be stopped, once and for all."
"They really got to you, didn't they? Fine then, I-I"
Suddenly Charles is frozen in place. His head is now facing down and his hands are no longer trembling.
"Hey, are you OK?"
"Of course Chase, why shouldn't I be."
"Chase," says Clayman, "I have a bad feeling that Mr. Charles isn't OK."
As if in response to that Charles lifts his head. He is now smiling and he now bares a striking resemblance to someone else Chase knows.
"His eyes," Chase is now showing an emotion, shock. "His Iris's have glowing red circles around them like when I dueled that Herman guy!"
Because the crowd has no idea what's going on, they are cheering in hope that this show will get more interesting.
"Now then Chase, if I were you I wouldn't get so confident."
"You don't scare me!"
With an emotionless voice he responds, "You don't get it Chase, do you.
Even if you beat me today, you'll never stop Segas."
"What have they done to you?"
"All they've done is given me a tricked out deck. My draw, first up I think I'll tribute my Air Eater and Ancient Brain in order to summon the ruler of all Fiends! I summon Archfiend Empress!" (ATK: 2900/DEF: 2100)
The tall demon has a woman's shape with bleach white skin and purple accents. Its long staff ends with 2 sharp blades and a skull connecting the 2. Its red cape and long purple hair are attached to a white bone crown, made from a rib cage with 2 demonic horns protruding from the crowns base.
"So that's your new ace."
"Impressed? Don't forget; thanks to Solidarity Archfiend Empress makes Aggibo look like your puny hero's."(2900-3700)
"Your demented queen still can't get passed my Swords."
"About those, I play Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying your Swords."
As the swords fade from sight, Chase begins to sweat.
"Stay strong Chase, you'll still have life points after this attack."
"Go Archfiend Empress, malevolent scepter blast!"
Captain Gold jumped out of the way but as the purple beam hit granite floor, it then jumped up and shocked Captain Gold till it exploded. (2400-800)
"That was my most powerful level 4."
"I know, and that's what makes it all the more fun. I end my turn."
Chase
"It's no good." Now Chase's hands are trembling. "Skyscraper only increases my HERO's power by 1000. That won't give any HERO over 3000 ATK points. I only have 3 cards and none of them can help me here. I don't know what to do."
Suddenly, Chase drops to his knees. He no longer seems angry or emotionless; instead he appears scared and confused.
"Well, now who's scared?" Charles says this in a mocking tone. "Do you wish to surrender?"
"You better answer him Chase." Clayman is standing tall in front of the young boy. There is neither anger nor shame in his voice. "It's OK if you surrender. Taft said that you don't have to stay in the tournament."
"But if I surrender then who will stop Segas?"
"What's there really to stop? Taft is rich elitist. What happened to that woman from this morning isn't Segas's fault nor is it your responsibility to make society pay for its faults."
"But what about Charles and anyone else being controlled by Segas."
"There's no proof that this is a common thing they do. This is an important time for them so they probably decided to test you in as many ways as possible. Charles is now no more than another test."
"Your right, I should just surrender."
"The only other problem with surrendering is that if you surrender then you'll have broken your promise."
"My, my promise?"
"Just because we Hero's are never right next to you, it doesn't mean we don't know what's going on. I remember the night you made that promise. I remember what was going on that time, I remember why you made it and I remember who you made that promise to."
Chase is no longer listening to the clay warrior. He is now thinking back to a night so long ago yet so recent he can still remember all the details. He can see all the lights, hear all the noises and he can remember a face. A beautiful face stained with tears and what touching that beautiful face led to.
"Well, you gonna give up or not?"
Chase puts his hand over the scar on his neck. He then rises oof the floor and places his hand on the top of his deck.
"My draw!"
"So you're going to stick around for your smack down after all, very ballsy."
"The only one getting a smack down here is you. I play Fusion Recovery! Now thanks to this card, I get 1 Polymerization and one Fusion Material monster back from my grave!"
"Fuse all you want there's no way you can summon a monster with enough points to destroy my Empress."
"Just watch, I play Polymerization! Now I can fuse Elemental HERO Bubbleman with the Elemental HERO Avian I just drew in order to fusion summon, Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!" (ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000)
"Wow, from what I've been told, that's your favorite fusion monster. I just wish we hadn't met under such defensive circumstances."
"He's not in defense mode."
"What? Even with your Skyscraper he doesn't have enough power to defeat my monster and its all thanks to-"
"All thanks to Solidarity. Yeah, I've heard you save that probably 5000 times at this point so I think I'll destroy Solidarity! I play R-Righteous Justice!"
"What's that do?"
"Simple really, now I can destroy spell/trap cards equal to the number of face-up Elemental HERO cards I control. True that's only 1 but 1's all I need!"
"No, without Solidarity my Empress returns back to normal!"
"No shit, Sherlock, (3700-2900) now Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, attack his Empress, instant freeze!"
Absolute Zero raised his snow white hand and fired a blast of ice blue energy at Archfiend Empress. Empress responded with a blast of black energy from her staff. The 2 beams appear to be dancing with each other but in half a second, (2500-3500) the beam of black energy freezes and the blue energy uses this as its path straight to the Empress. She attempts to flee but before she's able to even drop her staff, she is frozen solid, then, both players hear cracking noises, then another, and another, and another until.
"My, my Empress, it, it just shattered." (2700-2100)
"That was the plan."
"Actually, that was my back up plan."
"Back up plan?"
"That's right. You see, my Empress has ability. When she's destroyed by battle, I can special summon 1 level 6 or higher Fiend-Type monster from my graveyard. Now return to the field, Air Eater."
"Not him again. I set 1 card face down and end my turn."
Charles
"My draw. Funny, you have no cards in your hand and you have 2 cards on the field. Since you flat out said a minute ago that none of the cards in your hand can help you, all I need to do is power up my Air Eater and summon another monster but how do I do that with only 1 card in my hand? Oh I know how, I play, Fiend's aid! Now since I control another Fiend I can select 1 level 4 or lower Fiend monster in my graveyard, special summon it and increase my first monsters ATK power by its level time 200. Which means, thanks to my Abaki, Air Eater is now the strongest monster on the field! (2100-2900) Now Air Eater, destroy his Zero and empty his field, air missiles!"
Suddenly, all 4 of Air Eaters arms open from the bottom to reveal 4 missiles. The missiles fire and Absolute Zero covers his arms over his face as he is blasted to smithereens. (800-400)
"Now that your monsters destroyed I can- what's with the light?"
"The reason my hand was useless before, was because I didn't have a monster and since you destroyed my monster, Hero Signal activates. Now I can special summon 1 level 4 or lower Elemental HERO from my deck to the field. Now I summon Elemental HERO Ocean!" (ATK: 1500/DEF: 1200)
"He doesn't have enough power to destroy either my monsters."
"What monsters?"
The mind-controlled Charles now shows shock as he realizes his field is empty. "What, what did you do?"
"Do you know why Absolute Zero is my favorite fusion monster, it's because when he's removed from the field, he takes all your monsters with him."
"But that leads me wide open for a direct attack! Wait...even though I'm out of cards, your monster doesn't have enough points to take me down."
"We'll see about that."
Chase
"My draw."
"Did you get a monster?"
"Nope, good think for Ocean's special ability."
"Special... ability?" Charles is now worried.
"That's right and now since it's my Standby Phase, Ocean lets me add 1 Hero from my deck, straight to my hand."
"But, but that means-"
"Yup, now I summon Elemental HERO Burstinatrix!" (ATK: 1200/DEF: 800)
"But, there's no way for me to get out of this attack."
"Funny, I thought that was how you Segas people liked your targets to be. Now, Ocean, Aqua trident (2100-600) and last but not least, Burstinatrix, send this guy back to mommy, flare storm!" (600-0)
Winner: Chase Loser: Charles
"OK Charles, no more hiding behind stupidity. I want to know everything you know about Segas."
Charles does not respond. Instead he appears as if the trident jab to the stomach and the blasts of fire were real instead of just illusions.
"Hey kid," say's a voice from the crowd, "I think your friend is feeling sick."
Before Chase can respond, Charles hits the ground hard, eyes wide open and with the red light around his irises gone.
…
Charles' is not awake or at least he doesn't believe he is. His eyes are closed and for the first time in almost a month, he feels as if he is not in some kind of dream world. He's wondering if he's dead but as he becomes more aware of what his senses are telling him, he knows he is indeed alive. He can feel plastic on his chest and he can hear a light beep to his right. He tries to lift his arms, only to realize that he is covered in a nice warm blanket. With this information, he has come to the conclusion that he is in bed and the bizarre images in his head, such as a tall white armored super hero, or a giant being blown up by a floating hair drier and the strangest image of all, a purple silhouette of a flying bird are know more than a strange dream.
As he tries to open his eyes, the bright light forces him to close them; he tries this 2 or 3 times before his new surroundings begins to take shape. The room is white with a series of windows to the right. The room is small; he can even see several strange machines next to him, then it hits him. He's in a hospital room. He suddenly starts panicking. He's wondering, "was I in an accident, did someone shoot me, and better yet, why is it the last thing I remember is some cop telling me that Chase Rhodes has vanished?"
Suddenly, Charles feels a soft warm hand land on his and suddenly, he calms down. He looks to his right and he sees that the hand is owned by an angel. A beautiful angel with long red, almost fire colored, hair. She has flawless white skin and green eyes and the best part is she's smiling at him.
"Are you OK Charles?" She says this with the voice of an angel and with a west coast accent.
"You, you know my name?"
"Of course, I know your name. Why wouldn't I know your name?"
"I've never seen you a day in my life."
"Wait you don't remember her?"
Suddenly, Charles freezes at the sound of the new voice. He then slowly turns his head 180 degrees to see Chase Rhodes leaning against the corner wall. Charles then screams and jumps nearly a foot off the bead.
"You, you disappeared... and why do you have a criminal mark!"
"What are you talking about? You're the one who disappeared and I've- wait a minute... Charles, what do you think today's date is?"
"...Last time I checked, it was October 4th. You didn't show up for class and... 2 cops showed up. They started asking to speak to kids individually and next thing I knew, I'm here."
"October 4th," remarks Vanessa, "Chase that's the day we met."
"That's also 24 hours after I was last seen on campus. Which means if I was reported missing that would be the time they'd start looking for me."
"But you told me that Moretti covered for you."
"Moretti... the history teacher, what's he got to do with this!"
"Not important," says Chase, "what is important, is what did the cops say to you?"
"They said... they said... I have no idea what they said. All I remember was opening the door and next thing I know, I'm here. Oh my god, what's happening to me."
"Charles," begins Vanessa, "there's no easy way to say this but... well... honestly-"
"It's October 30th-"
"Chase!" Vanessa's face now shows anger; a sharp contrast to the combination of shock and confusion on Charles.
"No- it, it can't be. How could I have been asleep for that long? Where's my Mom and Dad?"
"Charles, you haven't been unconscious. Chase had to do something complicated and that's how we met. The day I transferred here, you and I met in Math class where you kept talking to me about pony's, for some weird reason. Later that day, you saw me hanging out with 2 of my friends. One of them was Chase. You then started dueling Chase and then you disappeared until 3 days ago when you entered a duel tournament. You lost that tournament to Chase a few hours ago."
"I don't remember any of that! What, what's going on here."
"Listen Charles, this isn't easy to explain, but you have a right to know. For the past several weeks you've been manipulated by a group called-"
"Excuse me Mr. Rhodes, Ms. Aaronson, you're going to have to come with us."
Standing in the doorway are 2 men. One is tall with grey hair and an aging face. The other is shorter, younger and about twice as wide. Both men seem serious and both men are wearing black suits.
"Can't you see we're busy?" As Chase says this, he moves himself in front of Vanessa.
"We have specific instructions to bring you with us."
"Sorry but we promised the Doctor that we'd stay here until Charles' parents get here." Says Vanessa, granted she is being distracted by the sight of Chase placing his left dove tail to his right. Vanessa can only assume that this is so if things get messy, Chase will be able to fling open the compartment in his shoe and pull out his small knife.
"Our boss would like to speak with the 2 of you right away. Don't worry about the boy's parents."
Next Time: Segas
"Don't you dare udder the forbidden word Mr. Ortega."
Taft now has his right fist clenched and his left hand tightening around the trigger.
"My name's not Ortega isn't that right Grand Master Beach?"